‘American Idol’ Recap: Ten Become Nine In Emotional Elimination Round

MK Nobilette’s far-from-“Perfect” performance on Wednesday’s “American Idol” led to her ouster from the show on Thursday (March 20). After landing in the bottom three for the third time in four weeks, Nobilette’s luck ran out and she was sent packing back to San Francisco.

Here’s how Thursday’s results show shook out.

MK Says Goodbye
After giving the season’s best performance last week, MK Nobilette followed it up with the season’s worst performance, delivering an awkward, botched version of Pink’s “Perfect” on Wednesday’s performance episode. And when the votes were tallied, MK was at the bottom of the heap, and was forced to sing for the judges’ save.

To her credit, she was able to quickly pull herself together, and she sang a spot-on version of John Legend’s “All of Me” that nearly brought Jennifer Lopez to tears. It was the first time this season where it seemed like the judges might use their save, but in the end, they didn’t. “It has to be unanimous, and it is not unanimous. And it breaks out heart, but we have to say goodbye to you,” Harry Connick Jr. told her, looking like the one who wasn’t on board. MK answered with a simple, “OK,” and “Idol’s” first openly gay finalist was sent on her way.

[ video unavailable on this device ]

Majesty, Dexter In Bottom Three
Joining Nobilette in the week’s bottom three were Majesty Rose, taking up residence at the bottom for a second straight week, and Dexter Roberts. Majesty landed in the bottom after her un-EDM’d version of Avicii’s “Wake Me Up,” and Dexter faced elimination for the first time after delivering a straight-down-the-middle take on Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise.” (At least Florida Georgia Line liked it; the duo sent Dexter a congratulations message that aired just moments before he was delivered the news he was in the bottom.)

As the results were read, Majesty was sent back to safety first, leaving Dexter to sweat it out with MK. But Dexter lives to see another week, and will have to live up to Harry Connick Jr.’s challenge to be “bigger than the song” as he goes forward.

J Lo, Royal Teeth Perform
Jennifer Lopez returned to the block on Thursday with a performance of her new single “I Luh Ya Papi,” which opened with her sitting on a stoop surrounded by former “Idol” contestants Allison Iraheta, Pia Toscano and Jessica Sanchez. Later in the song — which may or may not have been performed live, though producers went to great efforts to make it look like it was live — J. Lo was joined onstage by French Montana, who provided his guest verse on the song.

New Orleans pop-rockers Royal Teeth also performed on the show, giving viewers a taste of their single “Wild.” Harry Connick Jr. introduced them and shouted out the group’s Louisiana roots.

Caleb Apologizes
While he was waiting for his results to be read, Caleb Johnson took a moment to apologize for a remark he made the night prior, when he said he pranks Alex Preston — who has a peanut allergy — but putting peanuts in his socks and his underwear.

“I want to sincerely apologize for the peanut allergy joke. That joke was not meant to be hurtful or condone any harmful jokes,” Johnson said, as if he had been besieged with angry letters from the Peanut Allergy Nation after the show. “I am deeply sorry about that.”

No apologies were made for all the gratuitous selfie endorsements on Wednesday’s show, however.

’Idol’ Is ’With The Band’
Next week, the Top 9 “Idols” take on the theme “(I’m With the) Band,” singing the favorite songs of Rickey Minor and his band. So at least if the song choices are bad, the contestants have someone to blame.

Also, Thursday’s results show goes down to a half hour, so there’s no time to mess around before Ryan Seacrest drops his dreaded, “dim the lights!” and gets down to business.